One Stop domestic

Your leading domestic labour facilitator - Nicole van der Westhuizen

The answers to our most frequently asked questions:

- What is the average wage the domestics are prepared to work for?

Most domestics would like to earn between around R4000/month as a starting salary including transport (for 5 days a week sleep out work). The sleep in ladies start at R3500/month but get 3 meals/day and free water and electricity. They also only use public transport twice a week. If a lady would like to work for more than the above rate or is willing to consider a lower offer we will specifically state that in her profile. Weekend work is often paid at R30/hour. But you can always make an individual work offer to a specific domestic and see if he or she will accept it.

- How updated is your website?

We update our site two to three times a week. It sometimes happens that a domestic has found work for herself without letting us know or is on a long holiday. Therefore we always ask our clients to give us the names of their favourite two to three ladies in the right order of liking.

- Will the domestic do everything I ask him/her to do?

Your domestic will try his or her best to accomodate you. It is however against the Zimbabwean culture for a lady to pick up doog pooh or get into touch with dog or cat pooh in any way. It is in their culture seen as an insult. A Zimbabwean lady will therefore do anything for you, clean your car and windows outside but not pick dog pooh. Zimbabwean men on the other hand ARE allowed to pick it up.

- Our nice domestic is looking for additional work two specific days of the week; will you be able to help her? And how can she contact you?

Although we prefer ladies who need work 5 days a week over those who only need certain days, we do make exceptions if the domestic comes with a very good recommendation from the current employer.

- Which method of communication do you prefer us to use?

The best way to contact us (if you are a new client) is either via email, whatsapp or sms, and if you are a domestic looking for work, then via whatsapp or sms.

- What exactly do you teach the domestics at your one day training?

We hold a refreshment course in housekeeping/gardening, and work ethics. The ladies each have to clean a room and we demonstrate how to iron properly. The gardeners have to mow the lawn and use basic garden tools. We also do give a demonstration for the men of how to care for a swimming pool. All domestics get copies of the course notes to take home and are encouraged to ask questions.

- Our domestic takes her yearly leave/maternity leave, but we need someone to work in her place for as long as she is gone; can you help us?

Yes we can. The fee for this is R600 and after your regular domestic is back, our stand-in goes back onto our database; or, for 3 or more days work per week you pay an additional R800 and employ our domestic permanently.

- Can the women cook or prepare meals?

Most of them are shy when asked about their cooking abilities, but are keen to only cook for your children. Many of them are willing to be taught how to cook for the entire family. Some of them have done cooking courses and are passionate about cooking. That will be specifically stated in their profiles. We will also mention if a lady dislikes cooking.

- Can the domestics be trusted?

Nobody can give a no-steal guarantee. We do, however, talk to them about work ethics as part of our basic domestic training. We believe that a worker is more likely to steal if he or she feels disadvantaged or underpaid. One can minimise stealing temptation by treating the workers with respect and be sensitive to the fact that we might lead a privileged lifestyle compared to them. Also by paying them an appropriate salary and not too little.

- Do you help people to de-clutter or clean a very unorganized and/or dirty home?

We unfortunately don't offer cleaning services - where you receive a team of women for a spring clean.

- Do you provide police clearance certificates?

No, because such certificates only show if someone had been convicted of a crime. South Africa, however, has a very low conviction rate, which makes those certificates often unreliable.

- Are you a legal agency?

We are not an agency at all. The people don't work for us. Even while they are advertised on our site, they are free to find work for themselves and are in no way bound to us. We just provide employers with information about the supply side of the market and charge a fee for the collation of this information.

- What are my options again, should I not like the domestic I have chosen?

You are entitled to unlimited replacements within the first 3 months of work commencement. You simply contact us and we'll provide you with the telephone number of another domestic of your choice. If we don't hear from you after 3 months, we'll assume the first one was a perfect match!

- Is there a miminum amount of days a week/month I need to take a domestic?

The minimum a gardener, cleaning lady or nanny will be placed into your family is twice a month on the same day of the week.

- Can the workers be tested for HIV?

By law one is not allowed to publish a person's HIV status. We had clients before who asked the nanny (before employing her) if it would be ok with her to take her for a HIV test for which the clients paid and many nannies agreed.